Arnold Palmer airport, Adelphoi among Westmoreland recipients of $14M in state funds

Proposed expansion of the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport terminal, improvements at three industrial parks and a new facility at the Adelphoi main campus in Latrobe are among seven projects in Westmoreland County set to receive more than $14 million in combined funding through Pennsylvania’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program.

Announced Friday, the largest portion of the funding, $4.5 million, was approved for the proposed terminal project at the airport in Unity.

Other approved funding includes:

• Construction of an enhanced supervision facility by Adelphoi, $2.54 million.

• Construction of a Health Sciences Center for the Westmoreland County campus of Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), $2 million. The center will feature lecture halls, classrooms, laboratories, a learning resource center, student study space, faculty offices and conference rooms.

• Construction of a Pulmonary Institute at the Redstone Highlands Senior Living Community in North Huntingdon, $1.5 million. The 12,750-square-foot facility would house 60 patient rooms and two family suites. It would be equipped with a centralized oxygen delivery system.

• Westmoreland Distribution Park North, Phase II, $1.53 million. It will develop two pad-ready sites on 60 acres of the industrial site in East Huntingdon.

• Hempfield Office Park, Phase II, $1.1 million. The money is to be used to developing pad sites on 110 acres for potential technology and health care projects.

• RIDC Westmoreland Phase V, $1 million. This money will pay for completing infrastructure and electrical improvements at the industrial park in East Huntingdon.

Airport plan details

Westmoreland County Airport Authority officials have considered plans for adding about 28,000 square feet to the 45,000-square-foot terminal at the Arnold Palmer airport. They’ve identified a need to provide more space for passengers at times when two flights are being served simultaneously and have expressed a desire to attract a second commercial carrier in addition to Spirit Airlines.

Expansion of the terminal’s restaurant space and addition of a small casino room are other ideas that have been discussed.

Friday’s funding brings the authority about halfway to covering the estimated $22 million project cost, according to authority Executive Director Gabe Monzo.

“Along with the recent developments in spacing and passenger flow for the terminal, and in order for us to continue operating in a safe manner, it has become very apparent that we must increase the capacity of the overall operation,” Monzo said. “We have used some very creative means to meet current capacity issues, but the time has come to address the immediate need along with the capability to enhance the overall operation well into the future.

“This airport has always been acknowledged as convenient and easy to use. This funding commitment will enable us to continue to be one of the best small commercial service providers in the country.”

Monzo, who is president of the Aviation Council of Pennsylvania, expressed gratitude to Gov. Tom Wolf and Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward, R-Hempfield, for their support of the state’s airports.

Funding for all seven of the Westmoreland projects “will strengthen our local economy through job creation, advance our regional efforts to attract and grow businesses, while also improving the quality of life for our residents,” Ward said.

Adelphoi plans

The Adelphoi supervision facility will include 15 beds for girls in the child welfare and juvenile justice system, complementing a similar program the organization already offers for boys, according to state Rep. Jason Silvis, R-Washington Township.

Adelphoi “has proven it knows how to successfully support children who need this type of treatment,” said Silvis.

He indicated the new facility will support 70 new jobs.

An enhanced supervision program provides a less intensive environment than a secure residential facility, with delayed locks rather than complete locks on entries and exits, Silvis said.